Editorial: Juvenile argument will cost taxpayers

While Chico police officer Todd Boothe and City Councilman Randall Stone continue their fight that started as a juvenile name-calling contest and hasn't advanced much from there, we've finally learned there will be some collateral damage to their spat — the taxpayers.

Boothe has filed a claim against the city of Chico — his employer and Stone's employer — seeking "unlimited" damages of more than $25,000 because he says he was defamed by Stone.

It's hard to say how the claim will play out, but we have a prediction: Boothe's lawyer will meet with the city's lawyer, they'll decide that it will be cheaper to settle out of court than go to trial, the council will approve it, Stone will get some sort of public reprimand or be forced to apologize as part of the settlement, and that will be that.

Usually these sort of out-of-court settlements in private-sector lawsuits are buried with a secrecy clause stating that neither side can release terms of the settlement. That's what often happens in private-sector sexual harassment and wrongful termination claims.

The one saving grace about this case is that the city of Chico is a public agency. Because taxpayer money is involved in any settlement, the city can't just hide behind a gag agreement and sweep it all under the rug. The dirty truth is there for all to see. And a five-figure settlement will and should make taxpayers very angry.

This all came to light last fall. Stone, in his role as a councilor, has questioned police officer pay. That has earned Stone some enemies in the ranks. Boothe called Stone "incompetent" and a profane name in an Internet post. Stone then searched Boothe's Facebook page, found racist posts about Barack Obama and homophobic posts as well, and shared them on Facebook, calling the officer's judgment into question.

Boothe's actions were investigated by the department. Police Chief Kirk Trostle won't discuss whether Boothe was disciplined, saying it's a personnel matter, but Boothe said in his claim against the city that he is ineligible for promotions or special assignments for at least one year.

As we've stated in the past, a police officer, like any citizen, has a First Amendment right to say dumb things on the Internet. But it shows questionable judgment and can paint the entire department as racist and homophobic. We're sure that was the basis of the disciplinary action against him.

We've also said that Stone showed poor judgment. It's one thing to share the posts with Boothe's boss and ask for an investigation. It's quite another to spread them around the Internet and criticize an employee in media interviews — thus the lawsuit.

Back in November, we wrote in this space that both of them made a mistake, and that they should realize it and apologize for it. They haven't.